U.S. patent application number 14/268434 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for rotating electrical machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI. The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI. Invention is credited to Mitsunori NAGAO, Toshio NAGAO.
Application Number | 20140239755 14/268434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48288725 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140239755 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAGAO; Toshio ; et
al. |
August 28, 2014 |
ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINE
Abstract
This disclosure discloses a rotating electrical machine
including a rotating electrical machine main body portion including
a stator and a rotor, a winding switching unit including a
plurality of electronic components and configured to switch
windings of the stator, and a wiring chamber including a first
terminal base configured to connect an end portion of the windings
to the electronic components electrically. The wiring chamber is
arranged between the rotating electrical machine main body portion
and the winding switching unit.
Inventors: |
NAGAO; Toshio;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; NAGAO; Mitsunori;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI |
Kitakyushu-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA
DENKI
Kitakyushu-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
48288725 |
Appl. No.: |
14/268434 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2011/075903 |
Nov 10, 2011 |
|
|
|
14268434 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
310/54 ;
310/68D |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02K 5/225 20130101;
H02K 9/19 20130101; H02K 5/20 20130101; H02K 11/33 20160101 |
Class at
Publication: |
310/54 ;
310/68.D |
International
Class: |
H02K 11/00 20060101
H02K011/00; H02K 9/19 20060101 H02K009/19 |
Claims
1. A rotating electrical machine comprising: a rotating electrical
machine main body portion including a stator and a rotor; a winding
switching unit including a plurality of electronic components and
configured to switch windings of the stator, and a wiring chamber
including a first terminal base configured to connect an end
portion of the windings to the electronic components electrically,
the wiring chamber is arranged between the rotating electrical
machine main body portion and the winding switching unit.
2. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein
the winding switching unit includes a winding switching housing in
which a first coolant flow passage is disposed.
3. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 2, wherein
the first coolant flow passage is disposed between the electronic
component and the wiring chamber.
4. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 3, wherein
the rotating electrical machine main body portion includes a
rotating electrical machine housing in which the stator is disposed
inside and a second coolant flow passage is disposed.
5. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 4, wherein
the wiring chamber includes a second terminal base configured to
connect the end portion of the windings to a power cable
electrically.
6. The rotating electrical machine according claim 2, wherein the
winding switching housing includes: a bulkhead portion separating
the winding switching unit from the wiring chamber; and a
communication hole allowing the winding switching unit and the
wiring chamber to communicate with each other and is formed on the
bulkhead portion, wherein the first terminal base is configured to
connect the end portion of the windings to the electronic component
electrically through a bus bar inserted through the communication
hole.
7. The rotating electrical machine according claim 3, wherein the
winding switching housing includes: a bulkhead portion separating
the winding switching unit from the wiring chamber; and a
communication hole allowing the winding switching unit and the
wiring chamber to communicate with each other and is formed on the
bulkhead portion, wherein the first terminal base is configured to
connect the end portion of the windings to the electronic component
electrically through a bus bar inserted through the communication
hole.
8. The rotating electrical machine according claim 4, wherein the
winding switching housing includes: a bulkhead portion separating
the winding switching unit from the wiring chamber; and a
communication hole allowing the winding switching unit and the
wiring chamber to communicate with each other and is formed on the
bulkhead portion, wherein the first terminal base is configured to
connect the end portion of the windings to the electronic component
electrically through a bus bar inserted through the communication
hole.
9. The rotating electrical machine according claim 5, wherein the
winding switching housing includes: a bulkhead portion separating
the winding switching unit from the wiring chamber; and a
communication hole allowing the winding switching unit and the
wiring chamber to communicate with each other and is formed on the
bulkhead portion, wherein the first terminal base is configured to
connect the end portion of the windings to the electronic component
electrically through a bus bar inserted through the communication
hole.
10. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 4, further
comprising: An opposite load-side bracket arranged on an opposite
load-side of the rotating electrical machine housing and including
a bearing supporting a shaft on which the rotor is disposed,
wherein the wiring chamber is disposed at the opposite load-side
bracket.
11. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 5, further
comprising: An opposite load-side bracket arranged on an opposite
load-side of the rotating electrical machine housing and including
a bearing supporting a shaft on which the rotor is disposed,
wherein the wiring chamber is disposed at the opposite load-side
bracket.
12. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 8, further
comprising: An opposite load-side bracket arranged on an opposite
load-side of the rotating electrical machine housing and including
a bearing supporting a shaft on which the rotor is disposed,
wherein the wiring chamber is disposed at the opposite load-side
bracket.
13. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 9, further
comprising: An opposite load-side bracket arranged on an opposite
load-side of the rotating electrical machine housing and including
a bearing supporting a shaft on which the rotor is disposed,
wherein the wiring chamber is disposed at the opposite load-side
bracket.
14. A rotating electrical machine comprising: a rotating electrical
machine main body portion including a stator and a rotor; a winding
switching unit including a plurality of electronic components and
configured to switch windings of the stator, and means for reducing
an influence of heat on the winding switching unit received from
the rotating electrical machine main body portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation application PCT/JP2011/075903, filed
Nov. 10, 2011, which was published under PCT article 21(2) in
English.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A disclosed embodiment relates to a rotating electrical
machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] A motor integrally including a motor main body portion and a
winding switching unit for switching windings of the motor main
body portion is known. In this motor, a winding switching unit is
disposed on an outer surface on an opposite load-side of the motor
main body portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided
a rotating electrical machine including a rotating electrical
machine main body portion including a stator and a rotor, a winding
switching unit including a plurality of electronic components and
configured to switch windings of the stator, and a wiring chamber
including a first terminal base configured to connect an end
portion of the windings to the electronic components electrically.
The wiring chamber is arranged between the rotating electrical
machine main body portion and the winding switching unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an entire
appearance of a state in which an electric motor according to an
embodiment is exploded for each major constituent part.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an axial side sectional view of the electric motor
in an assembled state when seen from an arrow A-A line in FIG.
1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a wiring unit when seen from an
arrow B-B line section in FIG. 2.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a switching control unit when seen
from an arrow C-C line section in FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view of a switching control
unit frame when seen from an arrow D-D line section in FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the switching control
unit frame when seen from an arrow E-E line section in FIG. 5.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 of
the switching control unit frame including a water-cooling cooling
chamber of a variation.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 of
the electric motor when a terminal base for windings is fixed to a
water-cooling cooling chamber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0013] An embodiment will be described below by referring to the
attached drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an entire
appearance of a state in which an electric motor according to an
embodiment is exploded for each major constituent part, and FIG. 2
is an axial side sectional view of the electric motor in an
assembled state when seen from an arrow A-A line in FIG. 1. The
electric motor in the illustrated example is a rotating electric
motor applied to a driving motor of an electric automobile, for
example. In FIG. 2, wiring of a cable and the like is omitted for
avoiding complication of illustration.
[0015] In FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric motor 100 has an electric
motor main body 1, a wiring unit 2, a switching control unit 3, and
a lid portion 4. The electric motor main body 1 has a substantially
cylindrical appearance as a whole and has an output shaft 12, which
will be described later, protruding on an axial end portion on one
side thereof (a lower left side in FIG. 1 and a left side in FIG.
2) and the wiring unit 2 and the switching control unit 3 having
the substantially same outer diameters and shapes shorter in the
axial direction coaxially stacked and connected on the axial end
portion on the side opposite thereto (an upper right side in FIG. 1
and a right side in FIG. 2), respectively. A stacking order is the
electric motor main body 1, the wiring unit 2, and the switching
control unit 3. Moreover, the lid portion 4 having the same outer
diameter is attached to an open end portion of the switching
control unit 3, and the entire electric motor 100 is constituted as
a substantially cylindrical assembly.
[0016] The electric motor main body 1 has an electric motor main
body frame 11, the output shaft 12, a rotor 13 in which a permanent
magnet is embedded, a stator 14 having windings, and a resolver 15.
The electric motor main body frame 11 is generally constituted by
having a substantially cylindrical shape and has the axial end
portion on the one side (the lower left side in FIG. 1 and the left
side in FIG. 2) closed by a closing wall 11a and the axial end
portion on the other side (the upper right side in FIG. 1 and the
right side in FIG. 2) open. In the illustrated example of this
embodiment, the output shaft 12 penetrates the closing wall 11a,
and the wiring unit 2 is connected to the axial end portion on the
open side. Moreover, a supporting wall 11b is disposed on an axial
position close to the open side inside the electric motor main body
frame 11, and the output shaft 12 is rotatably supported through a
bearing 11c at the respective center positions of the supporting
wall 11b and the closing wall 11a. Moreover, inside an outer
peripheral side wall 11d of this electric motor main body frame 11,
a cooling water passage 11e through which cooling water can flow in
a circumferential direction is disposed over the entire periphery.
Though not particularly illustrated in detail, this cooling water
passage 11e is connected to an external cooling water pump via
piping through which the cooling water flows (either of the piping
or the cooling water pump is not shown). By allowing the cooling
water to flow through the cooling water passage 11e, heat
generation of the electric motor main body 1 can be absorbed.
[0017] In the example of the electric motor 100 in this embodiment,
the rotor 13 in which the permanent magnet is embedded is
constituted having a substantially columnar shape, and is coaxially
fixed to the output shaft 12 inside the electric motor main body
frame 11. Moreover, the stator 14 having windings is constituted
having a cylindrical shape and fixed to an inner peripheral surface
of the electric motor main body frame 11 in such arrangement of
surrounding an outer peripheral side of the rotor 13 in which the
permanent magnet is embedded. As described above, the end portion
on the one side (the lower left side in FIG. 1 and the left side in
FIG. 2) of the output shaft 12 protrudes by penetrating the closing
wall 11a of the electric motor main body frame 11, while the end
portion on the other side (the upper right side in FIG. 1 and the
right side in FIG. 2) is accommodated inside the electric motor
main body frame 11. On the end portion on the other side of this
output shaft 12, the resolver 15 for detecting a rotation speed or
a rotation position of the output shaft 12 is disposed.
[0018] The electric motor main body 1 constituted as above is a
three-phase AC synchronous motor which can rotationally drive the
rotor 13 in which the permanent magnet is embedded and the output
shaft 12 by supplying three-phase AC power to the stator 14 having
windings and can detect a rotation angle of the rotor 13 by the
resolver 15. Though not particularly illustrated, the stator 14
having windings includes two sets of windings each constituting
three windings corresponding to each of the three phases in the
three-phase AC, respectively, wound in parallel. If the three-phase
AC is supplied only to one of these windings, since impedance is
low, a sufficient current is allowed to flow even in a high
frequency area, which is a suitable state for driving the electric
motor 100 at a high speed. Moreover, if the two sets of the
windings are connected in series and the three-phase AC is supplied
to all of them, since impedance is high, a sufficient voltage can
be applied even in a low frequency area, and a larger torque can be
generated in the electric motor 100 with respect to the same
current, which is a suitable state for a low-speed driving.
[0019] The switching control unit 3 is a unit for executing
switching control on how the two sets of the windings are connected
for the three-phase AC power supplied from the outside, and the
wiring unit 2 is a unit accommodating a supply terminal of the
three-phase AC power, the switching control unit 3, and a cable for
connecting the two sets of the windings of the electric motor main
body 1 by optimally routing the cable.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wiring unit 2 when seen from an
arrow B-B line section in FIG. 2. In the above FIGS. 1 to 3, the
wiring unit 2 has a wiring unit frame 21, a terminal base 22 for
windings, a terminal base 23 for power supply, and a shield plate
24.
[0021] An appearance of the wiring unit frame 21 has a
substantially cylindrical shape with the same outer diameter as
that of the electric motor main body frame 11 except that it has a
corner portion 21a at a position where the terminal base 23 for
power supply is arranged on its outer peripheral part. Moreover,
this wiring unit frame 21 has a shielding wall 21b on an axial end
portion on a side to be connected to the electric motor main body
frame 11 (the lower left side in FIG. 1, the left side in FIG. 2,
and a depth side in FIG. 3), and an axial end portion on the
opposite side (the upper right side in FIG. 1, the right side in
FIG. 2, and a front side in FIG. 3) is open. Inside the wiring unit
frame 21, the terminal base 22 for windings is fixed to a position
close to a shaft center, and the terminal base 23 for power supply
at the position of the corner portion 21a on the shielding wall
21b, respectively.
[0022] The terminal base 22 for windings as a whole is formed of a
molded resin member and integrally includes a base portion 22a
directly fixed to the shielding wall 21b and a coupling portion 22b
connected to the switching control unit 3. The base portion 22a has
a substantially cuboid shape whose height from an installed surface
with the shielding wall 21b is relatively low. The coupling portion
22b is arranged having the same length in a longitudinal direction
along a side on one side in a width direction (upper sides in FIGS.
2 and 3) of the base portion 22a and has a substantially cuboid
shape having such height that its upper end protrudes from the
open-side end portion of the wiring unit frame 21. Thus, the
terminal base 22 for windings has a shape continuing in a
longitudinal direction on a section having a substantially L-shape
as illustrated in FIG. 2. On the shielding wall 21b having a
substantially circular shape and located on a bottom surface of the
wiring unit frame 21, the base portion 22a of the terminal base 22
for windings is shifted from the center of the shielding wall 21b
and fixed in arrangement having a side along its longitudinal
direction as a chord of the shielding wall 21b. Moreover, the
coupling portion 22b is located on a side closer to the outer
peripheral side of the shielding wall 21b in the base portion
22a.
[0023] On an upper surface of the base portion 22a other than for
connection to the coupling portion 22b, six terminal joining
portions 22c are disposed in equal or unequal intervals across its
longitudinal direction. A slightly higher dividing wall 22d is
disposed between the adjacent two terminal joining portions 22c.
Moreover, on a tip end portion of the coupling portion 22b, six
connecting portions 22e are disposed in equal or unequal intervals
across its longitudinal direction (see FIG. 4 which will be
described later). The terminal joining portion 22c and the
connecting portion 22e located at the same longitudinal positions
are electrically connected to each other through a metallic bus bar
22f disposed inside the base portion 22a and the coupling portion
22b.
[0024] The terminal base 23 for power supply has a substantially
L-shape section continuing in the longitudinal direction similarly
to the terminal base 22 for windings and arranged at the corner
portion 21a on the outer peripheral side of the wiring unit frame
21 and fixed to the shielding wall 21b. On this terminal base 23
for power supply, three power supply joining portions 23a are
disposed in equal or unequal intervals across its longitudinal
direction. These three power supply joining portions 23a are
connected to an external inverter not shown through an external
power cable 25.
[0025] On a center position of the shielding wall 21b of the wiring
unit frame 21, the shield plate 24 having an outer diameter
slightly larger than the resolver 15 disposed on the electric motor
main body 1 and made of a magnetic body or the like, for example,
is disposed. Moreover, in the shielding wall 21b, two insertion
holes 21c, 21d are disposed adjacently to each other in appropriate
circumferential positions on the outer peripheral side from the
shield plate 24. Moreover, in the shielding wall 21b, a
communication hole 21e for leading a wiring of the resolver 15 into
the wiring unit frame 21 by penetrating the shielding wall 21b is
disposed on a position on the outer peripheral side from the
terminal base 22 for windings.
[0026] Then, in the six terminal joining portions 22c disposed on
the base portion 22a of the terminal base 22 for windings, the
three of them on the left side in FIG. 3 are joining portions for
joining terminals of high-speed cables 26, respectively, and the
other three on the right side in FIG. 3 are joining portions for
joining terminals of low-speed cables 27, respectively. The
coupling portion 22b is divided into two parts in the longitudinal
direction in correspondence with each of the high-speed cables 26
and the low-speed cables 27. The three power supply joining
portions 23a disposed on the terminal base 23 are joining portions
for joining terminals of power cables 28, respectively. Each of the
joining portions joins the terminal of each of the cables by
fastening of a bolt and the like. The high-speed cables 26, the
low-speed cables 27, and the power cables 28 are wired in three
each, and each of the three corresponds to each of the phases U, V,
and W of the three-phase AC.
[0027] The power cables 28 are cables through which the three-phase
AC current for driving supplied from the external inverter, not
shown, flows. The high-speed cables 26 are cables to be connected
at switching to high-speed driving to the two sets of windings
disposed inside the above electric motor main body 1, and since a
relatively large current flows depending on a switched state of
connection, a thick cable is used. The low-speed cables 27 are
cables to be connected at switching to low-speed driving to the two
sets of windings disposed inside the above electric motor main body
1 and since a current equal to or lower than that of the power
cables 28 flows in any switched state of connection, a cable with
the same thickness as that of the power cables 28 is used.
[0028] The three high-speed cables 26 are inserted through the
insertion hole 21c at a position closest to the terminal base 22
for windings and inserted into the electric motor main body 1. The
three low-speed cables 27 pass through the other insertion hole 21d
and are inserted into the electric motor main body 1. The six
cables in total, that is, the high-speed cables 26 and the
low-speed cables 27 inserted into the electric motor main body 1
are accommodated in a state wound in several turns in the same
winding direction on the inner peripheral side of the electric
motor main body frame 11, respectively, and the respective end
portions protruding from the wound portion 29 are connected to the
two sets of windings (the entire wiring including this wound
portion 29 is omitted in FIG. 2).
[0029] A winding path of the wound portion 29 of the cables in this
electric motor main body 1 is a circular path drawn in a
counterclockwise direction along an inner surface of the outer
peripheral side wall 11d of the electric motor main body frame 11
having an outer diameter equal to the wiring unit frame 21 when
seen from a section in FIG. 3 (not particularly shown). With
respect to this circular path, the high-speed cables 26 with the
arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3 can be routed so as to enter in a
wiring path with a relatively small curvature (large radius of
curvature). Moreover, with respect to the same circular path, the
low-speed cables 27 with the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3 are
routed so as to enter in a wiring path with a relatively large
curvature (small radius of curvature).
[0030] Here, the dividing wall 22d between the adjacent two
terminal joining portions 22c on the upper surface of the base
portion 22a is disposed in a direction along the wiring path of the
cables in the vicinity. Considering an outlet position between the
dividing walls 22d, connection can be regarded such that the
thickest three high-speed cables 26 are wired on an outermost
peripheral side in a radial direction of the terminal base 22 for
windings and the thinnest low-speed cables 27 are wired at the
substantially center positions in the radial direction of the
terminal base 22 for windings, respectively. The radial direction,
here, means a radial direction in the wiring unit frame 21 having a
substantially cylindrical shape. Moreover, in the wiring path of
this illustrated example, the three high-speed cables 26 and the
three low-speed cables 27 are arranged so as to abut to each
other.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the switching control unit 3 when
seen from an arrow C-C line section in the above FIG. 2. In the
above FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the switching control unit 3 has a
switching control unit frame 31, a diode module 32, an IGBT module
33, and a control circuit board 34.
[0032] An appearance of the switching control unit frame 31 has a
substantially cylindrical shape with the same outer diameter as the
electric motor main body frame 11. Moreover, this switching control
unit frame 31 has a water-cooling cooling chamber 35 on an axial
end portion on a side to be connected to the wiring unit frame 21
(the lower left side in FIG. 1, the left side in FIG. 2, and the
depth side in FIG. 4) and an axial end portion on the other side
(the upper right side in FIG. 1, the right side in FIG. 2, and the
front side in FIG. 4) open. The water-cooling cooling chamber 35 is
disposed so as to open toward the wiring unit 2 in a part (an upper
part in FIGS. 2 and 4) in the circumferential direction of the
switching control unit frame 31 and to be shielded on the whole
surface other than that. When the water-cooling cooling chamber 35
is connected with the wiring unit 2, the coupling portion 22b of
the terminal base 22 for windings penetrates the open part
(hereinafter referred to as an open port 31a) on which this
water-cooling cooling chamber 35 is not disposed and is inserted
into the switching control unit frame 31. A structure of the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35 will be described later in
detail.
[0033] Inside the switching control unit frame 31, the diode module
32 is fixed to an upper surface wall 35a at a position on a side
close to the open port 31a and the IGBT module 33 at a position on
a side far from the open port 31a (a wall surface on the right side
in FIG. 2 and the wall surface on the front side in FIG. 4) of the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35, respectively. The control circuit
board 34 is fixed in arrangement stacking on an upper side (the
right side in FIG. 2 and the front side in FIG. 4) of the diode
module 32 and the IGBT module 33 and is connected to an external
switching controller, not shown, via an external control cable 36.
Here, for convenience of explanation, a side of the lid portion 4
is assumed to be the upper side and a side of the electric motor
main body 1 to be the lower side. The diode module 32 is connected
from the six connecting portions 22e at the tip end of the coupling
portions 22b inserted into the switching control unit 3 from the
wiring unit 2 via respective appropriate wirings. Moreover, the
IGBT module 33 is connected to the diode module 32 and the control
circuit board 34 via respective appropriate wirings (these wirings
are not shown). Among them, since a large current flows through the
connecting portion 22b, the diode module 32, and the IGBT module 33
via the high-speed cable 26 and the low-speed cable 27,
high-temperature heat is generated. Thus, these connecting portion
22b, the diode module 32, and the IGBT module 33 need to be brought
into contact with a member constituting the water-cooling cooling
chamber 35 disposed on the switching control unit frame 31 so as to
absorb heat.
[0034] FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view of the switching control
unit frame 31 when seen from an arrow D-D line section in FIG. 2,
and FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the switching control unit
frame 31 when seen from an arrow E-E line section in FIG. 5. That
is, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an axial section and a side section
mainly of the water-cooling cooling chamber 35, respectively. In
these FIGS. 5 and 6, the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 is
constituted by a sealed space surrounded on its sides by a portion
on the outer peripheral side surface of the switching control unit
frame 31 except a peripheral part of the open port 31a to the
wiring unit 2 side and an inner wall portion 31b partitioning the
open port 31a and further sandwiched by a lower surface wall 35b
located on the wiring unit 2 side and the upper surface wall 35a on
a side opposite in the axial direction. In the example of this
embodiment, the respective inner surfaces of the lower surface wall
35b and the upper surface wall 35a are arranged so as to face each
other in parallel.
[0035] Moreover, inside the water-cooling cooling chamber 35, a
partition wall portion 35c extending over an outer peripheral side
wall on a side (a lower side in FIGS. 2 and 5) opposite to the open
port 31a from its substantially center position and connecting the
lower surface wall 35b and the upper surface wall 35a is disposed,
and thus, the entirety of the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 seen
on a plan view of FIG. 5 has a substantial U-shape (vertically
inverted in FIG. 5). The outer peripheral side walls at both end
positions of this substantial U-shape, that is, at two positions
sandwiching the partition wall portion 35c on the side opposite to
the open port 31a are opened, respectively, and nozzles 37 and 38
are disposed with communication, respectively. In the example of
this embodiment, the nozzle 37 on the left side in FIG. 5 functions
as the supply port nozzle 37 which supplies cooling water into the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35, while the nozzle 38 on the right
side in FIG. 5 functions as the discharge port nozzle 38 which
discharges the cooling water from the inside of the water-cooling
cooling chamber 35. The supply port nozzle 37 and the discharge
port nozzle 38 are connected to an external cooling water pump via
a piping through which the cooling water is made to flow (both
piping and the cooling water pump are not shown).
[0036] Inside this substantially U-shaped water-cooling cooling
chamber 35, the cooling water flows in a direction from the supply
port nozzle 37 toward the discharge port nozzle 38, and a shape of
the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 seen on the plan view of FIG.
5 is formed such that a side of the open port 31a (that is, a bent
side of the substantial U-shape) has a flow passage width larger
than that of a side on which the supply port nozzle 37 and the
discharge port nozzle 38 are disposed (that is, the both end sides
of the substantial U-shape). That is, it is formed such that the
flow passage width expands from the side of the two nozzles 37 and
38 toward a flow passage depth side. Particularly in an area
partitioned by the partition wall portion 35c, it is formed such
that the flow passage width expands from the side of the nozzles 37
and 38 toward the open port 31a side.
[0037] Moreover, inside the water-cooling cooling chamber 35, a
plurality of rectifying fins 35d is disposed on the upper surface
wall 35a of the wiring unit 2 side. These rectifying fins 35d are
wall portions protruding to such a degree that does not reach the
lower surface wall 35b from the upper surface wall 35a and disposed
in the number of four along the flowing direction of the cooling
water, respectively, in each area of the path through which the
cooling water flows. As described above, particularly in the area
partitioned by the partition wall portion 35c, it is formed such
that the flow passage width expands from the side of the nozzles 37
and 38 toward the open port 31a side, and thus, each of the
rectifying fins 35d disposed in the area is arranged substantially
radially. In the other areas, the four rectifying fins 35d are
arranged substantially in parallel along the flowing direction of
the cooling water.
[0038] Moreover, inside the water-cooling cooling chamber 35,
attaching portions 35e each having a screw hole 39 for bringing the
diode module 32 and the IGBT module 33 into contact with and fixing
them to the upper surface wall 35a therein are disposed. Each of
the rectifying fins 35d is disposed in arrangement not interfering
with these attaching portions 35e. Each of the attaching portions
35e is disposed from the upper surface wall 35a to the lower
surface wall 35b so as to connect to the both. In this way, the
diode module 32 and the IGBT module 33 are fixed to each of the
attaching portions 35e via a screw screwed with each of the screw
holes 39 and in contact over a wide range with the upper surface
wall 35a of the water-cooling cooling chamber 35. As a result, even
if a large current flows through the diode module 32 and the IGBT
module 33 and heat is generated, the heat can be absorbed by the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35. Moreover, even if the same
water-cooling cooling chamber 35, a flow velocity of the cooling
water is faster in the area on the side of the nozzles 37 and 38
where the flow passage width is small (the area on the lower sides
in FIGS. 2 and 5) than in the area on the open port 31a side where
the flow passage width is large (the area on the upper sides in
FIGS. 2 and 5), and cooling efficiency is higher. Thus, as
illustrated, the IGBT module 33 in which a heating temperature is
relatively high is arranged in the area on the side of the nozzles
37 and 38, while the diode module 32 in which a heating temperature
is relatively low is arranged in the area on the open port 31a
side.
[0039] Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the coupling
portion 22b of the terminal base 22 for windings penetrating the
open port 31a from the wiring unit 2 and inserted into the
switching control unit 3 brings a flat surface on its side portion
into contact with the inner wall portion 31b on the open port 31a
side of the water-cooling cooling chamber 35. As a result, even if
a large current flows through the bus bar 22f disposed inside the
coupling portion 22b and the entire coupling portion 22b generates
heat, the heat can be absorbed by the water-cooling cooling chamber
35. Moreover, since the terminal base 23 for power supply is also a
member generating heat when a current flows, by bringing its tip
end portion having a substantially L-shaped section into contact
with the lower surface wall 35b of the water-cooling cooling
chamber 35 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the heat can be absorbed.
Moreover, though not particularly illustrated, the wiring connected
to the resolver 15 disposed inside the electric motor main body 1
is wired through the communication hole 21e of the wiring unit
frame 21 and the open port 31a of the switching control unit frame
31 and is connected to the control circuit board 34.
[0040] Looking at the entire electric motor 100 configured as
above, the electric motor main body 1, the wiring unit 2, the
switching control unit 3, and the lid portion 4 are stacked in this
order and coupled as described above. Among them, the electric
motor main body 1 including the stator 14 having windings therein
has the largest heat generation amount, and then, the switching
control unit 3 including the diode module 32 and the IGBT module 33
therein have the second largest heat generation amount. Though the
wiring unit 2 has the terminal bases 22 and 23 and the cables 26,
27, and 28 disposed therein generating heat by flowing a large
current, the heat generation amount by the unit is considerably
lower than the electric motor main body 1 and the switching control
unit 3. As a result, the wiring unit 2 functions as an insulating
chamber which shuts off transfer of the heat from the electric
motor main body 1 to the switching control unit 3.
[0041] In the above, the output shaft 12 corresponds to an example
of the shaft described in each claim, the electric motor main body
1 corresponds to an example of the rotating electrical machine main
body portion described in each claim, the diode module 32 and the
IGBT module 33 correspond to an example of electronic components
described in each claim, the switching control unit 3 corresponds
to an example of the winding switching unit described in each
claim, the terminal base 22 for windings corresponds to an example
of the first terminal base described in each claim, the wiring unit
2 corresponds to an example of a wiring chamber described in each
claim, and the entire electric motor 100 corresponds to an example
of the rotating electrical machine described in each claim.
Moreover, the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 corresponds to an
example of the first coolant flow passage described in each claim,
the switching control unit frame 31 corresponds to an example of
the winding switching housing described in each claim, a cooling
water passage 11e corresponds to an example of a second coolant
flow passage described in each claim, the electric motor main body
frame 11 corresponds to an example of a rotating electrical machine
housing described in each claim, the external power cable 25
corresponds to an example of the power cable described in each
claim, the terminal base 23 for power supply corresponds to an
example of the second terminal base described in each claim, the
lower surface wall 35b corresponds to an example of a bulkhead
portion described in each claim, and the open port 31a corresponds
to an example of the communication hole described in each
claim.
[0042] The structure that the wiring module 2 is arranged between
the electric motor main body 1 and the switching control unit 3
corresponds to an example of means for reducing an influence of
heat on the winding switching unit received from the rotating
electrical machine main body portion described in the claims.
[0043] As described above, according to the electric motor 100 of
this embodiment, the switching control unit 3 has heat generating
components such as the IGBT module 33, the diode module 32 and the
like constituted by a semiconductor switching element and the like
as a plurality of electronic components. In general, the heat
generation amounts by these heat generating components are smaller
than the heat generation amount by the stator 14 having the
windings of the electric motor main body 1, and thus, the ambient
temperature in the switching control unit 3 is lower than the
ambient temperature in the electric motor main body 1.
[0044] In the electric motor 100 in this embodiment, the wiring
module 2 including the terminal base 22 for windings for
electrically connecting the end portion of the windings of the
stator 14 to the diode module 32 and the IGBT module 33 of the
switching control unit 3 is arranged between the electric motor
main body 1 and the switching control unit 3. As a result, the
wiring module 2 can be made to function as an insulating chamber,
and heat transferred from the electric motor main body 1 to the
switching control unit 3 can be effectively shut off Therefore, the
influence of heat on the switching control unit 3 received from the
electric motor main body 1 can be reduced. Moreover, since the
wiring module 2 is disposed as wiring space independent of the
electric motor main body 1 and the switching control unit 3, a
wiring work between the electric motor main body 1 and the
switching control unit 3 can be facilitated.
[0045] Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the switching
control unit 3 has the switching control unit frame 31 in which the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35 is disposed, by having the cooling
water flow through the water-cooling cooling chamber 35, the
switching control unit 3 itself can independently cool the diode
module 32 and the IGBT module 33. As a result, the influence of
heat on the switching control unit 3 received from the electric
motor main body 1 can be further reduced.
[0046] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the water-cooling
cooling chamber 35 is disposed between the diode module 32 as well
as the IGBT module 33 and the wiring unit 2. As a result, the heat
transferred from the electric motor main body 1 through the wiring
unit 2 can be shut off by the water-cooling cooling chamber 35, and
heat transfer to the diode module 32 and the IGBT module 33 can be
effectively shut off
[0047] Moreover, according to this embodiment, by means of the
cooling water circulating through the cooling water passage 11e
disposed on the electric motor main body frame 11, the stator 14
having the windings disposed therein can be cooled. Moreover, in
the wiring unit 2, the end portion of the windings of the stator 14
routed around within the wiring unit 2 and the terminal base 22 for
windings generate heat, but since the wiring unit 2 is arranged by
being sandwiched by the cooling water passage 11e of the electric
motor main body frame 11 and the water-cooling cooling chamber 35
of the switching control unit frame 31, cooling is performed
effectively, and a rise of the ambient temperature in the wiring
unit 2 can be suppressed. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the
entire electric motor 100 can be improved.
[0048] Moreover, according to this embodiment, electric power from
the external power cable 25 is supplied to the stator 14 having the
windings through the terminal base 23 for power supply disposed on
the wiring unit 2. Thus, the end portion of the windings routed
around within the wiring unit 2 and the terminal base 23 for power
supply generate heat, the wiring unit 2 is effectively cooled by
being sandwiched by the cooling water passage 11e and the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35 as described above, and thus, the
rise of the ambient temperature in the wiring unit 2 can be
suppressed.
[0049] Moreover, in general, the bus bar 22f has a sectional area
larger than that of the windings of the stator 14, and thus, if the
same current is made to flow, the bus bar 22f has current density
smaller than that of the windings, and heat generation is smaller.
In this embodiment, the terminal base 22 for windings electrically
connects the end portion of the windings to the diode module 32 as
well as the IGBT module 33 through the bus bar 22f inserted through
the open port 31a of the switching control unit frame 31. That is,
within the wiring unit 2, the end portion of the windings of the
stator 14 is converted to the bus bar 22f having a small heat
generation amount, and the bus bar 22f can be introduced into the
switching control unit 3. As described above, introduction of the
end portion of the windings having a large heat generation amount
directly into the switching control unit 3 can be avoided, and
thus, the influence of heat on the switching control unit 3
received from the electric motor main body 1 can be further
reduced.
[0050] Moreover, by molding a resin around the bus bar 22f, the
open port 31a of the lower surface wall 35b of the switching
control unit frame 31 can be closed or an opening area can be
reduced. As a result, the switching control unit 3 and the wiring
unit 2 can be separated, and the heat transferred from the electric
motor main body 1 to the switching control unit 3 can be shut off
more effectively.
[0051] Moreover, by disposing the switching control unit 3 not on
the load-side but on the opposite load-side of the electric motor
main body 1, a maintenance work such as replacement of the diode
module 32 and the IGBT module 33 and the like is facilitated.
[0052] In the above embodiment, the terminal bases 22 for windings
are disposed by being gathered into one group, but the present
disclosure is not limited to that. For example, two terminal bases
22 for windings individually corresponding to each of the
high-speed cable 26 and the low-speed cable 27 may be disposed or
may be divided into three parts or more and disposed. Moreover, the
three high-speed cables 26 are the thickest, and the three
low-speed cables 27 and the three cables 28 for power supply are
cables having the same thickness, but the thickness does not have
to be limited to two types as above. For example, one of the
high-speed cables 26 may be the thickest and the other high-speed
cables 26 may be thinner than that or any one of the low-speed
cables 27 may be made thicker than the thinner high-speed cables.
That is, the number of types of cable thickness may be three or
more. In this case, the wiring path of the thinnest cable does not
have to be located at the center position in the radial direction.
That is, it is only necessary that the wiring path of the thickest
cable is located at an outermost peripheral position in the radial
direction in principle, and a cable having a medium thickness other
than them may be located at the center position in the radial
direction.
[0053] In the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 disposed in the
switching control unit frame 31, the lower surface wall 35b and the
upper surface wall 35a are arranged in the manner that the
respective inner surfaces face each other in parallel in the above
embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited to that. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 corresponding to FIG. 6,
regarding the flow passage width when seen from the side surface
direction, a lower surface wall 35bA and an upper surface wall 35aA
may be arranged with the respective inner surfaces inclined to each
other in the manner that a flow passage width W2 on the open port
31a side becomes smaller than a flow passage width W1 on the side
of the nozzles 37 and 38. That is, the shape of flow passage may be
formed in the manner that its depth becomes shallower from the side
of the nozzles 37 and 38 toward the flow passage depth side. By
forming the flow passage shape as above, a flow passage sectional
area can be kept substantially constant while the flow passage
width when seen from a plane direction in FIG. 5 is expanded from
the side of the nozzles 37 and 38 toward the flow passage depth
side. As a result, since a flow velocity of the cooling water can
be kept substantially constant, an area of a cooling surface can be
increased without lowering cooling efficiency. As a result, the
cooling performances can be further improved.
[0054] Moreover, the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 having the
above configuration can be applied also to those other than the
above switching control unit 3 and the electric motor 100 and can
be applied to an inverter which similarly generates heat at a high
temperature, for example. Moreover, the rectifying fin 35d is
disposed on a wall portion protruding to such a degree that does
not reach the lower surface wall 35b from the upper surface wall
35a but this is not limiting. For example, it may protrude from the
lower surface wall 35b or may protrude from both the lower surface
wall 35b and the upper surface wall 35a with a clearance disposed
therebetween or in the manner that they are connected.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 8 corresponding to FIG. 2, cooling
efficiency may be further improved by bringing a bottom side
portion having a substantially L-shaped section in the terminal
base 23 for power supply into contact with the lower surface wall
35b of the water-cooling cooling chamber 35 and fixing the terminal
base 23 for power supply itself to the water-cooling cooling
chamber 35. Moreover, among the members on the wiring unit 2 side,
only the flat surfaces of the resin parts of the terminal bases 22
and 23 are brought into contact with the inner wall portion 31b and
the lower surface wall 35b of the water-cooling cooling chamber 35,
but this is not limiting. For example, each of the cables 26, 27,
and 28 may be wired so as to be in contact with any one of the wall
portions constituting the water-cooling cooling chamber 35.
Alternatively, the metallic bus bar 22f inside each of the terminal
bases 22 and 23 may be exposed to the outside and brought into
direct contact with any one of the wall portions constituting the
water-cooling cooling chamber 35. In this case, a configuration
giving consideration to insulation between each of the bus bars is
required.
[0056] The electric motor main body frame 11 and the wiring unit
frame 21 are constituted as separate bodies, but this is not
limiting. For example, though not particularly shown, the electric
motor main body frame 11 and the wiring unit frame 21 may be
integrally formed. In this case, in order to facilitate an access
to the inside of the electric motor main body frame 11, the closing
wall 11a needs to be constituted as a separate body so as to be
formed detachably. Alternatively, the wiring unit frame 21 and the
switching control unit frame 31 may be integrally formed. Moreover,
the electric motor main body 1 and the wiring unit 2 do not
necessarily have to be coupled adjacently, and a brake unit or the
like coupled with the output shaft 12 may be arranged between them
and coupled with them, for example. Moreover, in the electric motor
main body 1, the wiring unit 2 and the switching control unit 3 are
arranged and coupled on the axial end portion on the side opposite
to the side where the output shaft 12 is protruded, but this is not
limiting. For example, the wiring unit 2 and the switching control
unit 3 may be arranged and coupled on the axial end portion on the
side where the output shaft 12 of the electric motor main body 1 is
protruded. In this case, it should be configured such that the
output shaft 12 penetrates at the center position of wiring unit 2
and the switching control unit 3.
[0057] Moreover, in the above embodiment, the supporting wall 11b
as an opposite load-side bracket and the wiring unit 2 are made
separately, but it may be so configured that the wiring unit frame
21 of the wiring unit 2 includes the supporting wall and supports
the bearing 11c, for example. In other words, it may be so
configured that the wiring unit 2 is disposed on the opposite
load-side bracket. As a result, further size reduction of the
electric motor 100 can be realized.
[0058] Moreover, in the above embodiment, the case in which the
rotating electrical machine is an electric motor is explained as an
example, but this is not limiting, and the present disclosure can
be applied also to a case in which the rotating electrical machine
is a generator.
[0059] Moreover, other than those described above, the embodiment
and the method by each variation may be combined as appropriate for
use.
[0060] Though not particularly exemplified, the present disclosure
is put into practice with various changes added within a range not
departing from its gist.
* * * * *